In a unique opportunity, Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats is making a special trip to Louisville, Ky., this week to be part of the mind-blowing Thunder Over Louisville—the official kick-off party for the Kentucky Derby Festival. The event, which features an unparalleled air show and fireworks show, is one of the largest spectator events in North America.

Nor-Tech’s 477 SPX will participate in the Thunder Over Lousville. Courtesy Nor-Tech BoatsThrough his hometown connections with the event, Nor-Tech’s Brandon Weppner negotiated a special on-water demonstration of a pair of Nor-Tech models during Saturday’s air show, which is reportedly witnessed by more than 1 million spectators on both the Indiana and Kentucky sides of the Ohio River.

The Fort Myers, Fla., company will have a 477 SPX V-bottom and a 40 Roadster catamaran—both with twin Mercury Racing 1350 engines—on display for all to see at 4th Street Live from Thursday afternoon to Saturday morning. Then on Saturday afternoon, Weppner and Nor-Tech’s Scot Conrad will put together a 25-minute session featuring high-speed passes and maneuvers up and down the river in both of the boats.

“We’re the only on-water aspect of the show,” exclaimed Weppner, who has been part of the event twice in the Miss GEICO and JBS Racing offshore race boats. “We’ll do some high-speed passes in the impressive Nor-Techs and we’ll purposely throw some big roostertails to get the crowd excited.

The Miss GEICO race boat entertained the Thunder Over Louisville crowd in 2009. Photo by Jacob Zimmer“I mean where else can you get a crowd of a million people? This is such a gigantic event with a critical mass unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” continued Weppner. “Nor-Tech is extremely excited to be a part of Thunder Over Louisville this year. There will be 188 aircraft in the show but only two boats on the water. And the best part is that most people go wild when they see big boats like this.”

For a complete schedule of the Thunder Over Louisville show and the other 77 events surrounding the remainder of the Kentucky Derby Festival, click here.

Click photos to enlarge and for captions.